Publications

Maponga, R; Ahmed, F; Mushore, TD (2018). Remote sensing-based assessment of veld fire trends in multiple interwoven land tenure systems in Zimbabwe. GEOCARTO INTERNATIONAL, 33(6), 612-626.

Abstract
The study used Landsat imagery, MODIS fire data and in situ meteorological data to determine emerging fire trends in interwoven multiple tenure systems in Zimbabwe. Remote sensing enabled fire trends to be determined across terrain and official records barriers. The number of fires and area burnt increased from 2001 up to 2009 then fluctuated across tenure systems. Fire events rose from 9 to 80 per year in some of the tenure systems. Complex relationships among number of fires, area burnt and weather variables within and across tenure systems were identified. The fire situation was responsive to intervention; the positive fire trends were reversed from 2009 onwards. Projected trends show that fire events could be reduced to negative values in three systems, while in two they could double by 2026. The veld fire problem could be eliminated if a holistic approach is adopted to tackle it across sectoral and land tenure divides.

DOI:
10.1080/10106049.2017.1289557

ISSN:
1010-6049